The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1887-03-15
DESCRIPTION OF THE WRECK,
An Appalling Ruin Without tho Additional
Horror Of Fire.

An appalling Ruin Without tho Additional
Horror Of Fire,
BosroN, MASS, March 1.-THE wreck
as it lies makes more appalling ruin than
that of eny recent disaster. At Deerfeld,
White River Junction and other scenes OF
horror fire wiped out all the ruins that
were not indestructible, but not 30 this
time. There lies the great trough nearly
filled with torn, twisted, crushed { and
eplintered railroad property. An ade-
quste description Of the shapeless lnaas is
simply impossible. Or the nine cars
which formed the train aix are in the cut.
The first, No. 81, lies minus it's trucks
near the track, about 400 feet from the
nearest bridge Gbutment. 1t Was the rear
truck OF this car that went wrong first, but
tho occupants were not hurt, being ouly
shakenup. Back ofthiscar isnum5er 1S,tho
second car of the train. This esr was
swept from ita trucks and its rear was
crushed in by the Car following. Car
number %, the third one Of the train, ia
on the embankment badly demolished,
but retains Its general shape. The pas
sengers in this car wero badly shaken up,
but there we're no gerious easusities
among them. This car lies partly on its
side about 100 feet from the chasm. Next
came car No. 81. 1t is doubtful If any one
escaped from this car alive. The bridge
entirely gave way beforeit reached tho in
ward side, but the momentum Of the train
and tho strength Of the couplings carried
it nearly over the chasm. It dropped
Just before it reached tho abutment and
the body Of the car dashed against the
solid stone wall. fs5,
'ss THE FORCE or THE SHOCK. =.
The force Of the shock shot the roof for:
ward 80 that it cleared the chasm and elid
along the rails full length. The body OF
the car was literally ground to pieces, and
the bita oil wood, iron and human bodies
were strswn upon the road beneath, FORM
ing the foundation OF the wreck. Thoee
who examined tho wreck could find no
distinct trace in the ruins Of this car
which could be identified. The only proof
that it had existed was, the fac! that there
were plainly nine car roofs at different
points, and 1t followed Of course that nine
cars had been wrecked, though it was not
possible to trace but eight. The cars
which lie in the chasmT form q pile Of
wrecksge 400 feet long by 100 feet wide.
The road beneath crosses at such sharp
angle that all tho cars were diverted on
striking the opposite abutments into a
general position parallel with the street
and the abutments. Il Most Of the casual.
ties we're in cars Nos. 81, so and 81 re-
spectively, the fourth, fifth and sixth on
the train and the first, second and third
Of tho2e which went into the chasm. Cal
No. 81 lies in q heap Of splinters, with
sides and roof broken In. The stove did
not break its iasteninss but was broken
above tho grste, The fire, however, was
extinguished. ,.i.i5 ]. ,4g4N-'1saS.I I.25 a!
Gar No. 80 lies partly on car No. 81, un.
rooted and with every scat gone. Severa
Of the killed and wounded persons were
taken from this car. Gar No. 81 is practi
ca!ly demolished, while No. So lies almos,
intsct upon the ruins. Many persons
were injured in these cars and but few
were killed. Bach Of thep is the upturnec
wreck OF the smoking car, only q corner O.
which remains. Tho car whirled upside
down as it half fell from the embankment
Scarcely any Of ita occupants escaped in.
Jury and Policeman Lailori and one or two
others were Killed. h ~ va, .f;4ia I.
SPECULATION As TO CAUSE OF ACCIDENT.
The bridge where tho accident occurred
was built in July, 1876. It was 14O fee
in length and 20 feet in height, and
spenned the road, resting on heavy stone
walls. The grade of the road ia veri
heavy, aud there is q sharp curve where
the bridge CROSSES the highway. The
latter runs diagonally under the bridge
and tho sbutments upon which the struc
ture rests are set at sharp angle. The
| hxidrn was tasirnal for q dauhlo 9.aal = -